Marjorie Eileen Doris Courtenay-Latimer was born in 1907, in East London, South Africa. Latimer expressed an interest in nature from an early age. However, because of the lack of opportunities in that field, after completing school, Latimer trained to become a nurse. After completing her training, Latimer received the opportunity she had been waiting for and became the curator of the East London Museum. As curator, Latimer began collecting specimens for the museum. In 1938, the find of a lifetime came her way, when a fisherman caught a coelacanth and took it to a fish market. Latimer got the fish and later identified it as a coelacanth. Latimer spent the rest of her career working at the museum. After she retired, Latimer wrote a book on flowers. Latimer died in 2004, at the age of 97. She remained active until the time of her death.
Links
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E0D61131F934A35755C0A9629C8B63
http://www.prominentpeople.co.za/courtenay-latimer-marjorie.aspx
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article427581.ece
